Launceston Field Naturalists Club

The aim of the to encourage the study of all aspects of natural history and to support the conservation of our natural heritage.

The Club holds monthly meetings where guest speakers talk on an aspect of natural history and we conduct monthly field trips to study and better understand Australian natural history, with an emphasis on Tasmania and the north of the state in particular. The general public is welcome to attend.

The Club owns 60 hectares of covenanted land at Myrtle Bank and is the location of the John Skemp Field Centre which provides overnight accommodation. The property contains open grasslands, rain forest, wet and dry sclerophyll forest and water features, which are accessed via 12 walking trails. Many of the plants are named to allow a more detailed study of the flora. Ongoing projects for our volunteers on the property include revegetation, seed collection, track maintenance, eradication of weeds,  tree decline monitoring and monitoring the quality of the creek water running through the property. During our monthly "Skemp Day" we generally have a theme eg. fungi, orchids, water monitoring etc. The Club maintains an extensive library of books, posters and other resources as reference material for the education of members.

The Club has a formal partnership with other Australian and Tasmanian field naturalists clubs to assist with our aims and activities. We also have an informal partnership with local organisations and are currently involved with surveys of saltmarsh wetland life.

The Club's website has details of all meetings, field trips, Skemp Day's and participation in external group activities.

Regular Events:
Volunteers attend the Club's property every Tuesday 9:30-3pm. The John Skemp Forest Reserve at Myrtle Bank is a 80 ha property with covenants. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. Please contact Noel Manning by email: [email protected] if you would like to assist or phone on 0458030767

Primary Contact:

This information is provided for people to contact member groups about their community Landcare activities. Anyone wishing to distribute information generally to groups should contact Landcare Tasmania with their request.

Name: Noel Manning
Mobile phone: 0458 030 767
Email: [email protected]


Upcoming events

Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, December 03, 2024 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, January 07, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, February 04, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details
Launceston Field Naturalists Club working bee
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 09:30 AM
Launceston Field Naturalists Club in Launceston, Australia
Volunteers at Club's property every Tuesday and last Sunday of each month. Every Tuesday 9:30-3pm John Skemp Forest Reserve. Looking after the 80 ha property. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. RSVP required, please contact event organiser listed below. 
Event Details